2010 Super Bowl odds have been all over the place recently, but there’s a big NBA betting matchup on Thursday night to check out. Two of the biggest stars in the game will take center stage as Dwyane Wade and his Miami Heat will try to turn their fortunes around against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are currently the hottest team in the NBA.

Heat vs Cavaliers betting – Thursday, February 4, 8:00 PM ET

The Heat has been struggling on offense during a streak of four losses in five games, averaging 90.2 points per game, and the weight of the team is breaking Wade down, literally. He now has a back problem to go with wrist and ankle injuries, and you have to wonder how longer he can do this. Now Mario Chalmers is out for a while with torn ligaments in his thumb, meaning that Wade will probably have to handle the ball more, but unless someone else is going to step up and score (Michael Beasley, where are you?), the Heat won’t have much success.

James knows all about handling the ball more, as he has had to run the team even more than usual with injuries to Mo Williams and Delonte West, who aren’t really true point guards anyway. But the reigning MVP has handled it pretty well, averaging 10.8 assists over the last five games. As unstoppable as James is penetrating and scoring at the rim, he may be more of a threat when it comes to passing because he draws so much attention from the opposition, but he has the vision to find his teammates pretty much anywhere on the floor. Shaquille O’Neal has also been better with West and Williams out, because it essentially forces the Cavs to go inside. O’Neal has 16.6 points and 8.4 boards in his last five games.

Cleveland should be the favorites according to US sportsboook odds (US sportsbook reviews) in this contest, as they’ve dominated the Heat, winning eight of their last 10 against Miami, including two this year in Florida. Wade and James had a brilliant duel down the stretch, and they ended up with 32 points apiece, but James made the bigger plays when they were needed. The Cavaliers are beasts at home with a 20-3 record, and they’ve been relaxing at home while the Heat will play in Boston on Wednesday night, and they’re 1-7 this season in the second half of back-to-back games. Having to play in Boston and Cleveland in successive nights may be the toughest back-to-back in the league, and the Heat don’t have the depth to keep up with James and the Cavaliers, unless Beasley steps up.

Handicapping pick: Cleveland